and property. He directs me to say in reply that the property will of course be confiscated and that the men will be kept in custody. Before many days some place will be designated where prisoners of this description can be sent for safe keeping until everything is settled. When there is good reason to suppose that persons are giving aid and comfort to the enemy they should be arrested even when there is want of positive proof of their guilt.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. V. COLBURN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 23, 1861.

OPERATOR NATIONAL OFFICE:

Do not send any messages relative to the arrest of any person or persons in this District at any time during the day. The order is imperative.

THOMAS A. SCOTT.

Numbers 136 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK, August 23, 1861.

SIMEON DRAPER, Esq.

DEAR SIR: When in England a few weeks since two merchants from Charleston, S. C., both Northern men, and one of them a most violent secessionist, told me that the British consul in Charleston would sometimes allow letters to be dropped into his bag for England for them. The names of these two rebel gentlemen can be had by application to me from the proper quarter.

Yours, truly,

N. A. GARRETT.

[Indorsement.]

This gentlemen has been known to me for twenty years, and is reliable.

S. DRAPER.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 24, 1861.

Honorable WILLIAM P. FESSENDEN, Portland, Me.

SIR: As it is important and desirable that agents of the insurgents who may land at or proceed from Portland should be arrested I will thank you to inform me of a suitable person to employ to be on the lookout for such parties. The compensation will be at the rate of $50 a month.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 24, 1861.

Honorable ZACHARIAH CHANDLER, Detroit, Mich.

SIR: I will thank you to recommend to me a person to be employed in your city at a compensation of $50 a month to detect and arrest persons in the employ of the insurgents.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.